Huayu, my cheat code is a bit strange.

Chapter 44 The Protagonist (Please read, recommend, anything!)

Society calls for equality for all, yet class exists in everyone's heart.

If in the outside world, the contempt between superiors and inferiors is merely a silent understanding, on a film set, it is a blatant industry rule.

Here, the lead actors won't audition for the supporting actors, and the supporting actors won't care about the extras' opinions.

That was what Gu Xiao originally thought.

So when he saw Dong Jie, the "Mou Girl" (actress discovered by director Zhang Yimou), standing in front of him wearing a beige wool coat, he didn't react for a moment.

"Producer You asked me to audition with you for a scene."

Dong Jie's voice was soft, with her unique gentleness.

Gu Xiao didn't answer, but turned to look at You Jianming beside her, "What are you up to?"

"I found someone to audition for you, is that wrong?" You Jianming said with a laugh and a scolding tone.

Gu Xiao looked at him quietly, her usually somewhat relaxed eyes now surprisingly clear.

He hesitated from the moment he received the role of "Ouyang Yujian". Besides his confusion about acting itself, the most important reason was that he couldn't see the reason behind it.

If a pie really falls from the sky, it will most likely be snatched up by birds before it lands; anything that does land is almost always poisonous.

He believed You Jianming's talk of "investment" in the meeting room, but only half of it.

He also believed the "connections" that Wang Jiang mentioned at the recording studio door, but only one thing.

"Don't overthink it."

Seeing Gu Xiao's concerns, You Jianming stubbed out his cigarette in the metal cigarette case he carried with him and reassured her:
"As long as you don't sign a contract, you're free. We'll talk about the rest after you finish your audition."

Since things had come to this point, Gu Xiao didn't press further.

Dong Jie, on the other hand, looked at the young man in front of her, who was four years younger than her, with great curiosity.

Under the light, his features were clear and sharp. Although he was wearing the simplest black sweater, he exuded an inexplicable sense of detachment.

Although it's common practice for actors to play both young and old roles, she does indeed rarely act opposite actors younger than herself.

The thought that the other person was playing her ambiguous love interest made Dong Jie feel a little awkward.
……

……

Auditioning is not filming.

There were no extras, no set up, and no need to worry about the weather; the only cost was manpower.

This is why, once a director has a burst of inspiration, they will go to great lengths during the audition stage, designing as many as six or seven different scenarios for the same plot.

Gu Xiao was alright. Being a boy, and with his cheat ability, his body could handle it, even more than enough.

Dong Jie's situation is rather tragic.

Under the continuous intense light, her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, her eyes were slightly red, and her breathing rhythm was noticeably faster.

When Li Dawei tried another one and wanted to continue, Gu Xiao interrupted him:

"Director, I'm a little tired, can I take a break?"

It's an inquiry, but the tone is more like a notification.

Li Dawei was somewhat displeased.

It wasn't his tone directed at Gu Xiao, but rather that he was currently in a phase of bursting inspiration and couldn't bear to let go of this rare opportunity.

Gu Xiao had already walked out of the lighted area on her own. She took two bottles of mineral water from a nearby water tank, opened one, and handed the other to Dong Jie.

Dong Jie took it, whispered a thank you to Gu Xiao, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Whether someone needs rest or not, others may not know, but how could she not know?

Dong Jie sipped her water, her gaze involuntarily drifting towards Gu Xiao, who was tilting her head back to drink.

Over the course of those few hours, the two experienced three or four different emotional shifts, from initial restraint upon meeting, to feelings of inferiority after recalling their family backgrounds, and finally to an outburst of grievance when relentlessly pressured.
Each time, Gu Xiaoxian gets into the zone first, and then waits for her to catch up.

As the camera switched and the lighting was adjusted, while she was still mentally calculating her positioning and looking for the right camera angle and lighting, Gu Xiao had already taken her position.

He seems to have an innate ability to know where the camera is, where the light is coming from, and where he should stand.

One or two times could be considered a coincidence. But if it happens every time, then it must be a matter of skill.

Dong Jie suddenly thought of Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi.

Both of them were dubbed "Zhang Yimou's Girls," but the other two have already made a name for themselves in the international film industry, and the awards and accolades they hold are beyond her reach.

The attention she received for "Happy Times" was always mixed with talk of "unspoken rules" and "good luck".

Dong Jie once thought that it was really just a difference in time and opportunity.

But now, looking at the boy beside her who was four years younger than her, she realized for the first time that some people might really be exceptionally talented.

They were born to be in front of the camera and on the stage.

……

……

While Dong Jie was marveling at Gu Xiao's talent, he was also quietly observing the "Leng Qingqiu" who was about to become famous all over the country.

Gu Xiao didn't know much about this "Zhang Yimou girl".

Aside from the soon-to-be-acclaimed "The Story of a Noble Family," all that remains are her rumored affair with Tony Leung and her highly publicized divorce with Pan Yueming years later.

Whether it was because they hadn't known each other well enough or because she was attracted to good looks, Gu Xiao felt that this "Mou Girl" was actually a pretty nice person after spending a few hours with her.

As the lead actor, he neither showed any disdain for the supporting actor nor became irritable due to the intense audition process.

For someone who is not related to you by blood or marriage, it is already quite an achievement to have done this much.

It's really hard to believe that someone like that would do such a thing in the future.

Hidden too well?

Gu Xiao didn't think so.

He knew very well what it felt like to wear a mask, and he knew what that state of being was like.

If she can act this out, then her acting skills have reached a state of perfection, and she doesn't need to resort to any underhanded tactics.

"Have you rested?"

Li Dawei's voice broke the silence.

He walked over at some point, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Gu Xiao and Dong Jie.

Gu Xiao finished the last sip of water and put down the bottle: "Okay."

Dong Jie responded with a sound of agreement.

Li Dawei didn't immediately call for the start, but instead crossed his arms and scanned Gu Xiao's face back and forth with his gaze.

Gu Xiao felt extremely uncomfortable and subconsciously took a step back. "Director, what are you doing?"

Li Dawei said, "Try putting on the 'Jin Yanxi' makeup."

Gu Xiao's expression froze: "What?"

Li Dawei repeated it.

The entire studio fell into a subtle stagnation.

You Jianming, who had been leaning back in his chair, suddenly sat up straight, while his female assistant looked completely astonished.

Dong Jie's eyes widened as she looked at the director, then at Gu Xiao beside her, unsure how to react.

Gu Xiao looked puzzled: "Director Li, I don't understand what you mean."

Before Li Dawei could speak, You Jianming asked first, "Has Ouyang Yujian finished his test?"

Li Dawei, who was interrupted, was a little angry, but still said, "It's all right now."

You Jianming nodded, stood up, and handed Gu Xiao a business card: "Come to my company tomorrow at noon."

Gu Xiao took the business card. "What's this?"

You Jianming said, "Sign actor contracts."

(End of this chapter)